Artificial tooth



Jan. 21, 1930. GRANT 1,744,042

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH Filed Aug. 9, 1925 awuentoz fi'w/vc zs/ fray Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

FRANCIS H. GRANT, DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 GRANT DENTAL MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN ARTIFICIAL TOOTH Application filed AugustB, 1926.

The invention relates to artificial teeth and refers more particularly to the backings of artificial teeth. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a standardized backing for use with a standardized interchangeable facing and provided with pockets in its meeting face for receiving cement and decreasing the weight of the backing so that the weight of the backing and facing approximates the weight of the natural tooth. Another object is to forge the pockets in the backing during the forging of this backing thereby facilitating the forging of the backing and producing a more uniform density of the material thereof. A further object is to provide the backing with characters for designating the type and size of the backing these characters being so located that they are concealed by the facing when upon the backing but may be readily seen when the facing is removed. With these as well asother objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as more fully hereinafter setforth.

In the drawings Figures 1 and 2 are respectively front and rear elevations of a backing, embodying my invention Figures 3 and 4 are respectively longitudinal and transverse sections therethrough, with a facing attached;

Figures 5 and 6 are respectively front and rear elevations of a modified backing;

Figures 7 and 8 are respectively longi tudinal and transverse sections therethrough with a facing attached.

1 is the artificial tooth backing foruse with a standardized interchangeable artificial tooth facing 2. The backing is forged and standardized and forms a complete backing unit for engagement by the facing corresponding thereto in type and size and the backing forms with the facing'an artificial tooth of the approximate sizeand within the limits of the replaced natural tooth. In forging the backing cooperating dies are used for operating upon a gold or gold alloy ingot which cause the metal to flow and to consequently producea backing which is more dense and strong than a cast backing. These Serial No. 128,009.

dies are fashioned so that they will form the backing with an external anatomicallyshaped surface 3 and a front face 4t which is preferably in a single plane. These dies are also shaped to form the longitudinally extending rib 5 upon the backing and extending from the front face thereof for attaching the facing to the backing. For the purpose of more firmly securing the facing to the backing and at the same time facilitating the forging of the backing and particularly of the rib as well as the producing of a more uniform density of the material forming the backing, I have formed the forging dies to produce the pockets 6 in the front or meeting face 4 of the backing on opposite sides of the rib 5, these pockets being located nearer the inner end of the backing. Furthermore, by reason of forming the backing with these pockets the weight of the backing with the facing attached thereto approximates more nearly the weight of the natural tooth so that a better functioning of the artificial tooth is secured.

In order to assist the dentist in picking out the correct facing to be secured to a backing in the mouth and assuming that the previous facing has been broken, I have provided the characters 7 upon the front or meeting face 4 of the backing and near its outer end for designating the type and size of the backing which also designates the type and size of a facing adapted particularly for this backing. These characters are located so that they are concealed by the facing when the facing is in placebut when the facing is removed they may be readily seen. Furthermore, these characters are stamped into the front or meeting face of the backing, preferably during the operation of forging the backing itself so that the characters are permanent.

In the modification shown in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, 8 is the artificial tooth backing and forms with the standardized artificial tooth facing9 an artificial tooth of the approximate size and within the limits of the replaced natural tooth. This backing is forged and standardized and has an external anatomically shaped surface formed during the forging operation and corresponding to the external anatomically shaped surface 3 of the backing shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4t. The securing rib 10 extends longitudinally of the backing and from its inner end and the web and barrel of this rib respectively engage in the longitudinal slot 11 and transverse recess or bore 12 in the facing. The facing has a root portion 13 which is insertable into the gum and the transverse shoulder 14 which is engageable with the inner end of the facing. The rear face of the facing outwardly beyond the shoulder and also the front or meeting face of the backing are preferably flat or plain and the backing is provided with the pockets 15 in its front or meeting face for receiving cement, these pockets being formed during the forging operation and having the same functions as the pockets 6 of the back ing 1, shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and L. The backing also has the characters 16 stamped into its front or meeting face preferably near its outer end for designating the type and size of the backing.

From the above description it will be readily seen that I have provided a standardized backing having in addition to means for attaching a standardized interchangeable facing thereto, pockets for receiving cement which is additionally used in securing the facing to the backing and that these pockets have a relatively large area to better assist the dentist in controlling the color of the facing by the use of colored cement. It will also be seen that the forming of these pockets during the forging of the backing facilitates the forging operation and produces a more uniform density of the material forming the backing and further that the weight of the backing is decreased so that the combined weight of the backing and facing approximates the weight of the natural tooth. Still further it will be seen that by stamping characters to designate the type and size of the backing upon the front or meeting face of the backing these characters are permanent and are normally concealed by the facing but may be readily seen when the facing is removed.

That I claim as my invention is:

1.v An article of manufacture comprising a forged standardized backing for use with a standardized interchangeable facing and having an anatomically-shaped external surface, said backing being constructed to form a support and to cooperate with the facing to form an artificial tooth within the limits of the replaced natural tooth, said backing having an integrallongitudinally extending rib upon its front face for attaching the facing to said backing and being provided with pockets in its front face on opposite sides of said rib for receiving cement additionally used in securing the facing to said backing.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a forged standardized backing for use with a standardized interchangeable facing and constructed to form with the facing an artificial tooth, said backing having integral means for attaching the facing thereto and being provided with pockets formed during the forging operation and separate from said attaching means for receiving the cement and also being provided with a permanent character upon its front face for designating the type and size of said backing, said character being located at the outer end of said backing so that it may be readily seen when the facing is removed and yet concealed by the facing when attached to said backing.

3. An article of manufacture comprising a forged standardized backing for use with a standardized interchangeable facing and constructed to form with the facing an artificial tooth, said backing having integral means for attaching the facing thereto and pocket portions formed during the forging operation at opposite sides of said attaching means for receiving cement, said backing being provided with a permanent character upon its front face for designating the type and size of said backing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANCIS H. GRANT. 

